Academic Writing in PsychologyO-Week 2014

K Brack Feb 2014

Psychology as a Discipline

• Scientific discipline• Fact based (NOT opinion based)• Arguments built on previous research• Strict formatting, style and referencing rules

• Note: Different disciplines have different styles• Anthropology, Sociology and Social Work may

have different conventions• Always ask lecturer if not sure

Types of Writing in Psychology

• Essays• Literature Reviews• Lab Reports (Practical Reports)

• Reflective Writing• Case Summaries• Test Reviews

Most of your assignments

Some of your assignments

Basics

• Spelling• Grammar• Punctuation

• Colons (:), semicolons (;) and apostrophes (‘)• APA Style and Referencing

Language

Objective vs SubjectiveObjective Writing Subjective Writing

Fact-based Opinion-based

Aims to provide a balanced perspective Aims to present one side

Discussion guided by research – results published in scientific journals/books

Discussion generally guided by thoughts, feelings, personal experience

Scientific/Academic Generally non-scientific

Conforms to scientific standardsI.e. APA ensures all psych articles are the same format and style

Typically has different or no standards

Will get you great marks! Will get you a lot of feedback….

Language

• Past Tense• 3rd Person• No contractions

• don’t, can’t, it’s – do not, cannot, it is• Clear and Simple Language• Fact based – never bring in your opinion unless

specifically told to!!• Non-emotive

• Avoid adjectives like: tragic, amazing etc.

Language

• Do not copy what you read• You will read articles that are difficult to

understand – these are not ‘good’ articles• Your marker needs to understand your writing

• Your knowledge needs to come across• This is easier to achieve with clear and simple

language – not big fancy words

Example:

Some perchance contend cyberbullying to stand intrinsically coupled with its physical counterpart via means of mechanism, representation and consequence.

What is wrong with this writing?

Example:

Many researchers consider cyberbullying and offline bullying to share many similarities. These include the motive behind the bullying; the way the bullying occurs; and the effects on the victim.

What makes this writing ‘better’?

Simple is better

• Keep your sentences between 12 and 30 words • A few longer sentences are ok – but only if

necessary• If the sentence runs over 3-4 lines, try to cut it into 2

separate sentences• If you do not understand the word – do not use it!• Be short and sweet – go straight to the point• A 10th grade vocabulary will serve you better than

trying to be philosopher

Quoting & Paraphrasing

What’s the Difference?

Quoting & Paraphrasing

• Limit your quotes to 1-2 per assignment– Anyone can copy and paste a quote…– Rewriting into your own words makes you look smarter

and the marker will know that you understand that information

• Be careful about keeping phrases the same– Do not just ‘swap’ the phrases around– SafeAssign will pick this up as plagiarised– Successful vs Unsuccessful paraphrasing:

http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase.html

Essays, Literature Reviews and Lab Reports

Essays

• Purpose: Discuss a topic (usually answering a question) based on what you think the answer is– What is the topic/question?– What are the main arguments for and against?– What is concluded about the topic?

• (What’s the answer?)

Essays

Structure:•Introduction

• Introduces the topic and states what the essay will do/discuss

•Body• Several paragraphs addressing the main points

•Conclusion• Summarises the essay and states the concluding

answer

Literature Reviews

• Purpose: Discuss a topic based on the common themes/findings in the literature (body of research)– What is the topic/question?– What does the research say?– Are there disagreements within the research?

• This is called ‘critiquing’ or ‘being critical’

– What appears to be the answer (based on the research)?

Literature ReviewsStructure:•Abstract - Depends on the lecturer

• Summarises the review

•Introduction• Introduces the topic and states what the review will

do/discuss

•Body• Several paragraphs addressing the main points of the topic• Starts broad and moves on to the more detailed information

•Conclusion• Summarises the review and states the concluding answer

Lab Reports

• Purpose: Describe a study (experiment/survey) which was conducted.– What was the study about?– What did you think would happen?– What did you do?– What did you find?– What does it mean?

Lab ReportsStructure:•Abstract (summary)•Introduction

• A mini literature review of the topic• Ends with your hypotheses (what do you expect to happen?)

•Method• Detailed ‘recipe’ of the experiment – who, what, how?

•Results• Describes the results – numerical data/statistics

•Discussion• Interprets the results – what do the data mean?• How and why do your results match the ones you talked about in the

Introduction?

Before You Start Writing

Roadmapping & Signage• Good writing is like a map

– Tells you what is coming up– Keeps reminding you where you are (road signs!)– Reflects on where you’ve been

• Every introduction should state what your essay/review/report will talk about/accomplish

• Every body of text (middle paragraphs) should remind how the current information relates to the topic and how it links to what is coming up next (Lab Reports do this differently)

• Every conclusion should restate what your essay/review/report has talked about/accomplished

Skeleton Structures

• A dot point/sentence plan that maps out your writing before you start actually writing

• Easiest way to make sure your writing ‘answers the question’ or includes everything it needs to

• Easiest way for someone else to check your work

Essays

Structure:•Introduction

• Introduces the topic and states what the essay will do/discuss

•Body• Several paragraphs addressing the main points

•Conclusion• Summarises the essay and states the concluding

answer

Ethics of Animal Use in Psych Research

Section (1500w) Content

Introduction(150w)

What is the topic?What will this essay/review do?

Paragraph 1(400w)Background

What are animals used for?How long has this been happening?

Paragraph 2-3(400w)Non- Support for animal use

Why are people against animal use in research?What evidence can you use to support this?

Paragraph 4-5(400w)Support for animal use

Why do people support animal use in research?What evidence can you use to support this?

Conclusion(150w)

Sum up the arguments for and againstState which one appears to have the most support -(Answering the question or returning to the main point!)

Slide TitleSection Content

Introduction(150w)

The last decade has seen renewed interest in the debate over animal use…This essay will discuss the ethical arguments both for and against the use of animals in psychology research; as well as examining the current Australian laws and research guidelines….

Paragraph 1 (400w)Background

Psychological research uses animal subjects in a number of ways….The first documented psychology study using animals was in 1804…….Since then, requests for animal use is commonplace; particularly in cognitive psychology…

Paragraph 2 & 3(400w)Non-Support for animal use

The main argument against animal use is….Walker (1935) states that using animals for any research is immoral…Many researchers also refuse to use animals as subjects because….

Paragraph 4 & 5(400w)Support for animal use

Despite criticisms, there are still many researchers who support using animals…A common reason, as stated by Smith (1995), is that there are strict guidelines for animal use, and there are severe legal punishments…..For example, in Australia the use of animals is overseen by …….

Conclusion(150w)

In conclusion, there are strong arguments both for and against the use of animals…While critics declare the research to be immoral…. there are also many supporters….However, the strict guidelines attempt to ensure…

APA

APA Style/Referencing

• VERY strict • Time consuming

– Always give yourself at least 2 days to format and reference your assignment

– You cannot correctly do APA in the hour before your assignment is due

• Gradually worth more marks in assignments– You’ll make mistakes in 1st year – learn from them

APA Guides

• Make sure you are using the correct edition– APA 6th Edition currently

• APA LigGuide:– http://libguides.jcu.edu.au/apa

• Printable guide:– http://lgdata.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/docs/

753/925817/APA_6th2013.pdf

• By 3rd/4th year, consider buying:– Publication Manual of the APA (6th Ed)

Where to get help?

Learning Centre• Drop-in table open every day

• They will not proof read or edit your work (that’s your job)

• 1. Take in your skeleton structure at least 2 weeks before your assignment is due• They can tell you if it looks like you’re addressing the topic

and if the structure is sound

• 2. Take in your full draft at least 1 week before your assignment is due

• They can tell you if the structure is still sound; if your paragraphs flow well; and if your general writing needs work (spelling, grammar, sentence construction)

Tutor/Lecturer

• Your tutors and lecturers will not read drafts• Simply too many students

• Talk to them if you are having trouble understanding the assignment or the content

• If you are having trouble understanding an important theory, ask if you can try to explain it to them to check

• Always ask if you have questions about the style, formatting or other requirements• Nothing worse than not asking and getting it wrong

Other students

• Find a study partner or group

• Proof read each others work• Picking up other people’s spelling and grammar

mistakes is a great way to improve your own ability

• Help each understand the requirements

Criteria Sheets/Rubrics

• Tell you exactly what the marker is after

• Will tell you the weighting of each aspect• Generally, structure and comprehension are

worth more marks than referencing

• Once you have a draft – check off each rubric aspect• Help you spot gaps and get those extra marks

Online Resources

• Examples of previous work by students• http://www-public.jcu.edu.au/learningskills/resources/wsonline/typeswriting/model/index.htm

• Use as a guide – remember that some lecturers will give you specific instructions that may differ

• These examples are all stored in the anti-plagiarism software.

• Other online resources: • http://www-public.jcu.edu.au/learningskills/resources/wsonline/